Fungal Infections and Essential Oils

It is almost summer and it is not uncommon for children to pick up an infection at various places. The swimming pools and the gym are breeding grounds for infectious fungi. The children can also get ringworm from pets, contaminated soil, or person to person contact. The better the immune system is the less chance it is to get an infection.  I always build health first to make sure the little bodies can handle various challenges.

Ringworm

Ringworm is not a worm, it is a superficial fungal infection of the skin. It has a special ring formation that grows outward from the center and develop a red ring appearance on the skin. It is most common on the scalp but it can also appear on the body. It is contagious and can be spread from person to person. They can be stubborn to treat, and patience and consistence are required.

Some essential oils that show anti-fungal properties are tea tree, chamomile, geranium, lavender, myrrh, patchouli, and sandalwood.

One of the most powerful anti-microbial essential oil is tea tree/melaleuca.  

 Valerie Ann Worwood recommends to apply 1 drop tea tree neat on the affected area three times a day until it is clear. It normally takes 10 days, and after that, mix 30 drops tea tree with 2 tablespoons of massage oil. Rub this blend over the area daily. 

Valerie Gennari Cooksley suggests the following blend. The blend is a 10% dilution, as Cooksley thinks a concentrated blend is needed since fungal infections can be very resistant.

Ringworm Treatment Oil

vegetable oil 2 tbls.

tea tree 25 drops

lavender 15 drops

geranium 5 drops

peppermint 5 drops

Vitamin E 400 IU

Add the essential oils and the vitamin E to an empty dark glass bottle, add the vegetable oil. Shake the bottle to mix well. Use a Q tip to apply to the area. Cover the patch.

Soaking in the ocean or taking a sea salt bath have been useful for many skin conditions.

Anti-fungal bath

1-2 cups of sea salt

lavender 4 drops

geranium 1 drop

tea tree 1 drop

Fill the bath wit water. Add the essential oils to the sea salt and mix. Add to the bath water and stir well. 

Athletes foot

It doesn't take much for small little feet to get athlete's foot. Walking barefoot in places like swimming pools where someone infected has been can be enough.

Worwood's suggestions for athlete's foot are tea tree, lavender, and tagetes.

She suggests a foot bath daily. Add 5 drops of tea tree to a cup of salt and put in a large bowl of water. Let the child soak the feet for at least five minutes daily.

Worwood also suggests to make a foot powder by adding 10 drops of tea tree to a cup of dry green clay. Mix it really well, and powder the feet everyday.

A massage oil can also be made of 30 drops of tagetes to 2 tbls. of vegetable oil. Massage the feet before bed.

When dealing with fungal infections it is important to avoid food that feed yeast, change towels frequently, use only cotton socks, and drying the skin well. Consider adding immune boosting nutrients, and repopulate the friendly flora with Probiotics. 

Don't forget to check the safety and dilution chart to make sure the oils are suitable for your child.

Beach Time! - What You Need for the Beach and the Sun

Our family  went down to Corpus Christi yesterday to see our oldest son run in the regional final of Track and Field. We decided to leave early so that we could spend some time on the beach before the meet started. I decided to make body spray real quick to be prepared for minor things that might happen. I wanted a spray that would cover everything from a sunburn to an insect bite.

I choose Lavender, Peppermint, Geranium and Tea tree.  A blend of lavender and peppermint, or lavender and tea tree, would have done fine also. Lavender calms the skin, and it is also beneficial for healing burns and cleansing wounds and cuts. Peppermint is cooling, soothes pain, anti-infectious and supports digestion.

Tea tree was added for its antiseptic properties as well as for potential insect bites. Geranium has inflammatory properties, is hemostatic (stops bleeding) and revitalizes skin tissues. It is also an insect repellent.

Super Duper Beach Spray

Lavender  4 drops

Peppermint  3 drops

Tea tree  3 drops

Geranium 2 drops

2 oz. distilled water

1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel

I mix the essential oils with the aloe vera before I add it to the water in the spray bottle.  Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory, and will provide some soothing to a skin after sin exposure.

If the skin is very sore after a day in the sun you might want to pour a cooling bath and add some essential oils as well. Suitable carriers are honey, milk, aloe vera, honey and cream. Mix the essential oils with the carrier, and add to the bath water once its filled. The adult dose is 8-10 drops of essential oils to a full bath. I add half the amount to my 9 and 10 year old, dilute it even more for smaller children. 

Super Duper After Sun Healing Spray

Distilled water 1/2 cup

Witch hazel 1/4 cup

Aloe vera 1/4 cup

Lavender  8 drops

R. Chamomile 2 drops

Geranium  1 drop

Honey 1 tsp.

Mix water, witch hazel and aloe vera. Combine honey and essential oils and mix well. Add the essential oil mixture to the water. Make sure you use at least an 8 oz. spray bottle. Use several times during the day.

Other useful things to have at home in case the skin gets sunburned.

Extra virgin olive oil - has traditionally been used to treat and heal burns for centuries. The cold pressed oil is high in vitamins and minerals.

Calendula - is a staple in our house. I make infused oils and I always keep an bottle in the fridge. It can be used as a stand alone, or added to other blends, or essential oils can be added for extra healing. It is powerful on its own. I also use it as an ingredient when I make ointments. 

Wheat germ oil - Is high in antioxidants and is useful for burns and damaged skin.

Honey - Is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and can be used as a healing agent for dressings. Essential oils increase its effect, lavender and chamomile are especially useful.

Peppermint tea - Is cooling and a good choice when it is hot and someone needs to cooled down.

Spray bottles - Make a simple spray of Lavender  and use as a cooling and soothing spray.

We joke in our family and say that we eat our sunscreen. We hydrate, eat extra antioxidants, especially beta carotene, omega essential fatty acids (not cod liver), and plenty or raw fruit and vegetables to protect our skin as well. 

Introduction to Using Essential Oils on Children

Essential oils are safe for children as long as you follow the safety recommendations. It is recommended to  perform a skin patch test when you use the oil for the first time on the skin. Essential oils are very potent, and there are many oils that is best to avoid on children.

There are many ways to incorporate essential oils into a child’s life, and they respond very positively to aromatherapy. Methods include aromatic baths, lotions, and inhalation.

Many children also enjoy hand or foot massage. A drop or two of an essential oil on a pillow case is a great way to use essential oils when the child is congested, or has a hard time falling asleep. I used to put essential oils on a cotton ball and tuck it in under my daughter’s pillow.  She was suffering from a persistent cough when we lived in Wales, UK, and I used oils beneficial for the respiratory system.  Aromatherapy diffusers are also a way you can utilize aromatherapy inhalation safely for children.

Bedtime secrets
It can be a challenge many times to get a child to go to sleep, but I noticed that a relaxing calm bath can make wonders at bed time. Before the bath time you can try to give your child a cup of diluted chamomile tea. Lavender and mandarin are well liked by children,  and they can be used in a hand or foot massage before bedtime.

Aromatic Massage Oil for Children
2 tablespoons warm vegetable oil
5-10 drop s of Lavender or mandarin.
Mix the essential oils in the warm vegetable oil. You can make this ahead and keep it in a
dark or amber glass bottle. The essential oil blends should be kept in dark bottles. Massage
the feet, working towards the heart.

Favorite Bath Blend
Lavender 2 drops
Mandarin 2 drops.
Add this to vegetable oil and add to the bath water and swish. Amount of base oil depends
on the child’s age. Please refer to dilution chart You can of course switch mandarin for
another oil, or use only lavender.

Other relaxing oils for bedtime are bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, frankincense,
geranium, marjoram, rose, ylang ylang. Make sure the oils are suitable for your child and read the safety post first.

Charts -dilutions and suitable oils for each age group

Essential Oil Safety